Printing-machine.



N0. 685,5!(1. Painted Aug. 27, l90l. H. F. BECHMAN. PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application filed om. 2a, 1695.) (lo Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

lllllmllllllll" mmmmmfm mum m mu N0. $8M"). Patanted Aug. 27, IN. H. F. BECHMAN.

PRINTING IAGHINE.

(Applicatinn filed Oct. 96, 1895.) (llo Nodal.) 5 Shoats-$hoat 2.

Nu. 68!,6l0. Patented Aug. 27, IBM. H. r. BECHMAN.

PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 28, 1896.) (No Model.) 5 Sheats-$heet 3.

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No. 681,610; Patented Aug. 27, MIL

H. r. BECHIIAN. I PRINTING IABHINE.

(Application flied on. 20, 1895.) (No Modal.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 68%). Patented Aug; 27. mm. H. F. BECHMAN.

PRINTING IAGHINE. u (Applicafion flied 0a. 2a, was.)

(llo Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

UNTTTD STATES PATENT @FTTCE.

HENRY F. BEOHMAN, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,610, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed October 26, 1895. Serial No. 567,020. (No model.)

To all 1072,0177, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BEOHMAN, of Battlecreek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in printing-machines, and is especially designed for high-speed perfecting-presses. Its object is to handle sheets instead of a web of paper, which sheets may be fed into the gripper-cylinders from a web-roll, but are out prior to being imprinted.

The invention consists in the combinations and constructions of parts summarized in the claims, and in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated what I consider the best form of press now known to me embodying my invention; but I wish it understood that I do not consider my invention restricted to that particular form of press, as various modifications of construction and arrangement of parts will be obvious to press-builders and many details could be varied within the scope of my invention.

Proceeding to describe said illustrative machine, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the press. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the devices for operating the grippers of the locomotive-cylinder. Fig. 8 is a detail. Figs. 9, 1O, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are diagrams showing how a sheet of paper is handled in the press.

In suitably-constructed side frames A A are supported two typebeds B B, which are arranged parallel and one above the'other. Bed B is stationary. Bed B can be reciprocated longitudinally at the proper time, as hereinafter described, by anysuitable means. As shown, bars Z) are connected to the sides of bed B and extend rearward therefrom, lying in recesses in the in nor faces of the side frames, said bars having cam-rollers b on their rear ends engaging cams b on the main shaft 6, by which means the bed B is reciprocated back and forth. Over each bcd reciprocates a gripper-cylinder D D, respectively, provided with the usual registering racks Z and pinions Z. The shafts of these cylinders are journaled in sliding carriages E, which are mounted and guided on ways on the side frame, substantially as shown, or as in the well-known 00X type web-perfecting presses. The carriages are reciprocated back and forth by means of pitman E, connected to crankpins on large gear-wheels e on a main shaft 6, journaled in the side frames at the rear end of the press, as shown. The gear-wheels can be driven by means of small pinions e on an auxiliary driven shaft e or in other suitable or convenient manner. At each side of each cylinder-is a system of distributing and forminking rollers I, which receive ink from fountains t' at each end of each bed, as shown.

F F designate two transfer-reels arranged one above the other and having their shafts journaled in the side frames or in journalplates attached to the side frames, said reels being located near the front end of press in such position that when the cylindersD D are at the on d of their forward stroke reels F F lie immediately therebetween and are adapted, as hereinafter described, to transfer the sheets from one cylinder to the other.

f f are a similar pair of transfer-reels located between the side frames in position to transfer sheets from one cylinder to the other when the cylinders are at the end of their back stroke. The reels F F and ff may be continuously rotated and should make one revolution for each complete reciprocation of the cylinders DD. The reels F F have intermeshing gears F on their shafts, and reels ff have intermeshing gears f on their shafts, so that they rotate synchronously. The reels may be driven in any suitablemanner. As shown, a pinion G on the shaft of reel F meshes with an intermediate pinion G, which in turn meshes with a pinion G2 on the shaft of the paper feed and cutting roll II, which is driven by usual intermeshing gears from the coacting feed and cutting roll 11, which may be driven by any suitable means,and,as indicated in drawings,is driven by bevel-gears h h, counter-shaft h and bevel-gears h h-* from a horizontal shaft J which extends back to near the rear end of machine and is driven by bevel-gearsjj and 3 a train of gearsj j from a gear j on main shaft 6, as shown. As shown, a pinion g on the shaft of reel f meshes with an intermediate pinion g, which is driven by a pinion g on the shaft of the paper feed and cutting '10 roll K, which is driven by usual intermeshing gears from the coacting feed and cutting roll K, and roll K, as shown, is driven by bevel-gears 70 7c, counter-shaft 70 and bevelgears k M from the shaft J. Thus both sets 1; of feed-rolls and both sets of delivery transfer-reels can be operated synchronously from the main shaft 6.

It Will be observed that I have provided two sets of web-feeding rolls, and I propose 2o feeding in sheets cut from Webs at each end of press, as indicated in the drawings, thus making an entirely automatic machine; but I may for cheaper presses dispense with the automatic feeds and let previously-cut sheets 25 be fed by hand. However, as shown, the feed-rolls are so timed and operated that they will feed in and sever one sheet during each complete reciprocation of cylinders D D. The sheets pass from the feed-rolls H H through curved guides L, orany suitable guides, by which they are retained in position to be seized by the gripping-fingers of the cylinder I) at the proper times. Similar guides L are provided for feed-rolls K K. Asillustrated, the cylinders D D make about two complete revolutions for each stroke and always stop with their gripping-fingers uppermost. Cylinder D is provided with two sets of oppositely-acting gripper-fingers M m, arranged in the same recess. Grippers M are adapted to take the sheets from guide L, and grippers m to take sheets from guides L. As these operate when the cylinder is at the end of its stroke, and consequently stopped, 5 it is necessary to provide some means for actuating the grippers independently of the movements of the cylinder. As shown, loose pinions N n are mounted on the shaft of cylinder D, beside the ends of the cyl- 5o inder, and mesh with longitudinally-movframes. A pin M is attached to pinion N in position to engage with the T- head M on the end of the shaft of grippers M. Consequently by moving or rotating pinion N independently of cylinder D, I can open or close grippers M. Similarly by means of a pin m on pinion n, engaging a T-head m omthe end of the shaft of grippers m, I am enabledtoeperate grippers m independently of the moveinen f'df cylinder D. Ordinarily the pinions N n travel along with the cylinder and at equal speed; but when the cylinder D stops, the racks N n are shifted longitudinally, thereby giving an additional independent rotatory movement to the pinions N n and'causin'g them to operate the grippers, as desired. The racks N 7?. may be operated by means of crank arms a on rock-shafts N which are rocked by pitmen N having rollers N engaging a cam or cams N on shaft c, as indicated in the drawings, or by other suitable means. The cams would be so shaped that the racks N a would only be shifted when the cylinder is at the end of its stroke in either direction. The reels F F f f each have one set of gripping-fingers, which can be operated by the usual wellknown meanst'. e., T-heads 00 on grippershafts and stationary pins as on side framesas these cylinders rotate continuously, and therefore their gripper mechanisms need no detailed description or illustration. The cylinder D has two oppositely-working sets of gripper-fingers O 0, working in the same recess. On the shaft of said cylinder are loose pinions P p, meshing with longitudinallymovable racks P p, which may be operated by bell-crank levers P and pitmen P from cams P P respectively, on main shaft e, the cams P P being so shaped as to shift the racks Pp and pinions Pp at the proper times independently of the cylinder D. The racks P 19 are not operated simultaneously for reasons hereinafter explained.

The operation of the press, briefly, is as follows: Starting with the cylinders D D at the rear end of the press and while they are momentarily stationary, or during the time they reverse their movement, the racks N n are shifted longitudinally so as to close fingers m upon the edge of the sheet of paper 1, lying in guides L, and open fingers M. The cylinders then move forward, and after making about a half-revolution the sheet 1 is presented to the type on bed B and imprinted on one side as cylinder D rolls thereover, cylinder D passing clear of the bed after making about one revolution and a half and stopping after making two revolutions with the grippers uppermost, bringing the edge of sheet 1 into position to be nipped by the grippers on'reel f. As cylinder D stops,

racks N n are shifted again, thereby causing grippers m to release sheet 1 just as the grippers of reel f close thereupon, and at the same time grippers M are closed upon the able racks N n, mounted on top of the side edge of the sheet 2, lying in guides L. Then as the cylinders make their back stroke sheet 1 is pulled off cylinder D by the reels and sheet 2 is drawn in, sliding under sheet 1, and printed from the forms on bed B during the back stroke. At the end of the back stroke sheet 2is nipped by the grippers of reel F and simultaneously released by grippers M, while grippers m are closed upon another sheet 3, lying in guides L, about the same time sheet 1 is transferred from reelfto reel f. Then on the next forward stroke sheet 3 is presented by cylinder D to the form on bed B and at the end of the forward stroke is delivered to reel f, while another sheet 4 on guides L is caught by grippers M. At the same time sheet 1 is brought by reelf into position to be caught by the grippers O on cylinder D, and while the cylinders are reversing at the end of their forward stroke the rack P is shifted so as to close grippers upon sheet 1. Meanwhile sheet 2 is transferring from reel F to reel F. Then upon the next backward stroke sheet AL is printed on bed B by cylinderD, and sheet 1 is printed on bed B by cylinder D and delivered, as hereinafter de scribed, before cylinder D reaches the end of its back stroke. When the cylinders a reach the end of their back stroke, sheet 2 is nipped by grippers 0 of cylinder D, sheet 3 is transferred from reel f to reel f, sheet at is transferred from cylinder D to reel F, and another sheet 5 is taken hold of by cylinder D. When I say transferred, I do not mean that the entire sheet has passed from one cylinder or reel to another, but simply that the grippers are shifted so that such transfer will occur at the succeeding operation of the parts. Sheet 2 will thus be perfected at the next forward stroke of the cylinder D and delivered, and at the termination of such stroke the several sheets will be transferred in the order of their progress through the press indicated by the foregoing description of the transfers of sheet. 1. In brief, a sheet taken by cylinder D at either end of press is printed on one side and delivered to the transfer-reels at the other end of press,where it is taken by the cylinderD, perfected, and delivered at the end of press where it entered. If desired, the cylinders could be arranged to print on only one stroke, in which case but one feed would be used; but I prefer the double-acting perfecting-press described.

It will be observed that the cylinder D has to take the sheets when the grippers are lowermost, and to deliver sheets advantageously it should be done when grippers are uppermost. In order that this may be done and yet not have cylinder D travel farther or faster than cylinder D, it is necessary to shift bed B, for cylinder D will present a sheet to the type in a half-revolution, while cylinder D must make a complete revolution. Therefore in view of the foregoing conditions I have made bed 13 movable, and the cams are so constructed that as soon as cylinder D has completed an impression, movingin either direction, the bed is shifted toward the other end of press, this movement of the bed contrary to the movement of the cylinder taking place after each impression or in the intervals between successive impressions, so that cylinder D has the necessary amount of rotation before it comes in contact with the type.

As shown, the bed B is not moved while in contact with the cylinder or during impression. It is brought to a stop prior to the commencement of an impression and not shifted until the impression is completed. Therefore the ordinary cylinder-racks, which are of course used, are stationary and do not move with the bed. If preferred, obviously the bed could be arranged to move during impression by attaching cylinder-racks to the bed and adjusting the driving and delivery mechanisms accordingly. Because of this unusual point of delivery racks P p are shifted at different times. It is not necessary, however, to shift the racks by different cams. Indeed, it is intended to do it by one cam so shaped as to produce the required movement of the racks. It would not be practical to do it by different cams.

For convenience, say, gear P and rack P operate grippers O and gear and rack 13 operate grippers 0. After grippers 0 have closed upon a sheet from reel f and the cylinder D made about a revolution and a half backward the sheet is at least half printed and the grippers 0 come uppermost, as indicated in Fig. 18. At this point the grippers r of a delivery-cylinder R close upon the edge of the sheet, and simultaneously rack P is shifted so as to open grippers O and release the sheet. The delivery-cylinder R is journaled in hearings in the top or mounted on top of carriage E directly over cylinder D, and consequently cylinder R travels with the cylinder D, and is driven from the latter by gear Z I am thus enabled to begin the delivery of the sheet prior to the completion of the printing thereof, presuming it is quite long. From cylinder R the sheets are transferred by suitable tapes or other delivery mechanism of any suitable character (not forming part of present invention) to the folderlor delivery-table. The transfer-cylinder R has asecond set of gripping-fingers 7, which are adapted to take the sheets from cylinder D when fingers 0 release it, fingers 0 being operated at the proper time by the shifting of racks p. The grippers r r may be operated by any suitable means well known to press mechanics, and therefore such means is not shown in drawings. I have, however, indicated the pin at r and the T-head at r in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the grippers 0 will be opened before cylinder D reaches the end of its stroke, but will not be closed except at the proper times and when the cylinder D is at the end of its stroke. Of course the peripheries of the reels run close together and close to the peripheries of the cylinders when the latter come in approximation thereto, and if it should be found desirable the reels F f may be slightly raised to give clearance for the grippers M m, which must open as grippers of reels F f close upon the sheets on cylinder with full radius. This raising and lowering can be accomplished by various means. One is shown in Fig. 8, where the journals of the reels F f are shown as slightly eccentric, so that at the moment of taking sheets from the cylinder D the reels will be slightly elevated. I mention this for precaution; but it may be found wholly unnecessary to give this movement to the reels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure Letters Patent thereon, is

1. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of parallel beds, a pair of gripper impression cylinders adapted to carry sheets across the beds, means for reciprocating these gripper-cylinders respectively over the beds, and mechanism independentof the cylinders for transferring sheets from one impressioncylinder to the other, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of parallel beds, a pair of impressioncylinders, means for reciprocating the cylinders respectively over the beds, and independent mechanisms on the frame of the machine at each end of the press for transferring sheets from one impression-cylinder to the other, and mechanism for cutting sheets from a web and delivering the severed sheets to the reciprocating cylinders, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds, a pair of reciprocating impression-cylinders, coacting with said beds on both their forward and backward strokes; with independent mechanisms at each end of the press for transferring the sheets from one cylinder to the other, and mechanism for severing sheets from a web and mechanism for feeding the severed sheets into position to be caught by the proper cylinder, substantially as described.

4:. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds arranged one above the other, a gripper-cylinder reciprocating over each bed, and a sheet-transferring device located on the frame of the press at one end thereof and adapted to take sheets from one gripper cylinder and deliver them to the other cylinder to be perfected, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of beds, a pair of reciprocating grippercylinders coacting with said beds, and mechanism for taking a sheet of paper from one cylinder at the end of one stroke of the cylinders, and delivering it to the other cylinder at the end of the next return stroke of the cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds, a pair of gripper impression-cylinders coacting with said beds, mechanism for reciprocating said cylinders simultaneously, and a transferring mechanism located at one end of the press adapted to receive a sheet from one cylinder and transfer it to the other, substantially as described.

7. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds, arranged one above the other, a pair of reciprocating impression gripper-cylinders,coacting with said beds, on both their forward and backward strokes; with mechanism for transferring the sheets from esrero one cylinder to the other, substantially as described.

8. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds, a pair of reciprocating impression-cylinders adapted to present sheets of paper to the types on the beds on both strokes thereover; with mechanisms for transferring sheets from one cylinder to the other at each end of the beds, substantially as described.

9. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of parallel type-beds, a pair of impression-cylinders reciprocating thereover, and a pair of sheet-transfer reels at each end of the beds adapted to take sheets from one cylinder and deliver them to the other to be perfected, substantially as described.

10. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds, a pair of reciprocating impression-cylinders adapted to present sheets of paper to the types on the beds on both strokes thereover; with mechanisms for transferring sheets from one cylinder to the other at either and both ends of the beds, mechanism for cutting sheets from a web at both ends of the press and feeding them to one of the cylinders, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In a printing-press the combination of a reciprocating impression-cylinder, with a movable type-bed, and mechanism for moving said bed endwise in the intervals between impressions, but holding it stationary during impressions, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a printing-press the combination of a stationary bed, a reciprocating cylinder co acting therewith, a movable bed, a reciproeating cylinder coacting therewith, and mechanism for moving the bed; with mechanism for transferring sheets from one cylinder to the other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. In a printing-press the combination of a type-bed, and a coacting reciprocating gripper-cylinder; a loose gear on the cylindershaft adapted to control the movements of the grippers; and a longitudinally-movable rack for rotating said gear independently of its travel and movement with the cylinder, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a stationary typebed, a gripper-cylinder and mechanism for reciprocating the cylinder over the bed; with a loose gear on the cylinder-shaft, a stud on said gear adapted to engage the T-head on the gripper-shaft, and a longitudinally-movable rack adapted to be shifted intermittently to rotate the gear independently of its travel with the cylinder, for the purpose and substantially as described.

15. The combination of a pair of parallel type-beds, a pair of impression gripping-cylinders coactin g therewith; mechanism for reciprocating the cylinders over the beds, a pair of transfer gripper-reels at each end of the press adapted to take sheets from one cylinder and transfer them to the other cylinder; loose gears on the cylinder-shafts for controlling the grippers, and the movable racks for operating said gears independently of the cylinders, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a pair of parallel type-beds, a pair of impression gripping-cylinders coacting therewith; mechanism for reciprocating the cylinders over the beds, a pair of transfer gripper-reels at each end of the press adapted to take sheets from one cylinder and transfer them to the other cylinder; loose gears on the cylinder-shafts for controlling the grippers, and the movable racks for operating said gears independently of the cylinders, with web feeding and cutting rolls at each end of the press, and mechanism for presenting the cut sheets in position to be taken by the cylinders, substantially as described.

17. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of type-beds, a pair of reciprocating impression-cylinders adapted to present sheets of paper to the types on the beds on both strokes thereover; with mechanisms for transferring sheets from one cylinder to the other at either and both ends of the beds, and a delivery-cylinder mounted above and moving with the upper cylinder, adapted to remove the perfected sheets therefrom, substantially as described.

18. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of parallel type-beds, a pair of impression-cylinders reciprocating thereover, and a pair of sheet-transfer reels at each end of the beds, adapted to take sheets from one cylinder and deliver them to the other to be perfected, with a delivery-roller mounted above and traveling with the upper cylinder and adapted to take the perfected sheets therefrom, substantially as described.

19. The combination of a pair of parallel type-beds, a pair of impression gripping-cylinders coacting therewith; mechanism for reciprocating the cylinders over the beds, a pair of transfer gripper-reels at each end of the press adapted to take sheets from one cylinder and transfer them to the other cylinder; loose gears on the cylinder-shafts for controlling the grippers, and the movable racks for operating said gears independently of the cylinders, paper feeding and cutting rolls, and guides, for supplying severed sheets in position to be nipped by the lower cylinder and the delivery-roller mounted above and traveling with the upper cylinder adapted to take the perfected sheets therefrom, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

20. In a printing-press the combination of a pair of parallel type-beds, an impressioncylinder reciprocating over each bed, means for feeding sheets to one cylinder at or near the end of either and both backward and forward strokes, and sheet-transferring devices for taking the imprinted sheets from said cylinder and transferring them to the other cylinder to be perfected thereby, substantially as and for the purpose described.

21. In a printing-press the combination of a type-bed, a reciprocating impression-cylinder coacting therewith, provided with grippers adapted to take sheets at both ends of the bed and present them to types on the bed on both the forward and backward strokes thereover; with means for severing sheets from a web of paper at both ends of the bed, and alternately feeding the severed sheets to the cylinder, with mechanism, substantially as described, on the frame of the press at each end of the bed for removing the printed sheets from the cylinder, substantially as de= scribed.

22. In a printing-press the combination of a type-bed, a reciprocating impression-cylinder coacting therewith, provided with grippers adapted to take sheets at both ends of the bed and present them to types on the bed on both the forward and backward strokes thereover, with delivery mechanism adapted to catch and partially withdraw the imprinted sheets from the cylinder before it reaches the ends of its strokes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY F. BECHMAN. Witnesses:

FRANK W. DUNNING, IRVING L. STONE. 

